OMA Alumnus Wins Emmy Award

him from serving another tour nor stop him from downplaying his injuries to his mother, Mrs. Bertha Casey. In his letters Michael wrote, “I was reading over the letter and the part where I said, “I only had three small holes in my head,” isn’t as bad as it sounds. The pieces of the bullets that hit me went through the skin and slid around under my hide.”

After a short recess in his hometown of Sallisaw, Michael returned to Vietnam in September of 1969 as a Captain with a relatively safe post. However, Michael did not like the idea of staying behind while his troops were risking their lives in the AWARD On July 25, the Documentary L’Dor V’Dor Generation to Generation-A History of Tulsa’s Jewish Community won the Heartland Division Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary. This is the story of Tulsa’s Jewish community from its arrival in America, to its settling in Indian Territory, to its contemporary commitment to Oklahoma. Themes of persistence in the face of hardship and discrimination, institutional racism and dreams of a better life are addressed. The documentary has been shown on PBS stations around the country including RSUTV. The Emmy winners were: jungle. He was granted the request to serve in his former post as the platoon leader of The Ruthless Riders. In January 23, 1970, Michael volunteered to go on a rescue mission. Three American soldiers were injured in an ambush then left in the jungle. Bonnie mentioned in the interview, “Michael had the day off and these men were not a part of his platoon, but he strongly believed in no man left behind. Michael rode on a helicopter into a small jungle clearing. First, they saved a wounded Radio Man by placing him in the helicopter.” Then it was learned two other men were wounded past the clearing. Michael

OMA ALUMNUS WINS EMMY

and another fellow soldier brought Jeremy Lamberton: Director, Lookout Mountain Productions Elvis Ripley: Director, Lookout Mountain Productions Phil Goldfarb, OMA ‘69: Producer, President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa Jerry Parkhurst: Producer, Tulsa Historical Society Michelle Place: Producer, Tulsa Historical Society

The DVD is available at The Tulsa Historical Society. It can also be viewed on Amazon Prime Video or on YouTube. one injured man safely back to the helicopter. However, one was still in danger. Michael went back after the third man, and it was during this selfless act that Michael was killed in action. The soldier he was trying to save survived. Michael gave his life in order to save another. Bonnie described Michael’s death as: “Mike was our light on our hill, then the light went out.” Bonnie Gooch has met many of the Ruthless Riders and fellow cadets who attended the Oklahoma Military Academy with Michael, she stated “after all this time his death still brings tears to their eyes, Mike was loved.”

Mr. Phil Goldfarb ‘69

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